47 meters long. 5.08 meters wide. A beautiful baby. Or rather, an imposing barge. The boat is docked at Mont-Olympe, near the Mont-Olympe footbridge, opposite the Quai de la Maline. For almost a month, work has been underway inside. The objective? make it a bar and restaurant. A project carried out by one man, Judge Mahtoutalready at the head of the restaurant Le Blé d'Art, rue du Petit-Bois in Charleville-Mézières.
He discovered this boat a few months ago thanks to a friend. “ At first I didn't pay attention to it and eventually I went to see it. It was at the goods port of Givet, abandoned for ten years », explains the project leader.
Repairs in Charleroi
This restaurant boat, which dates from 1957, is called Bohemia. It has belonged to a French business manager for many years. Hakim Mahtout is then seduced by the ship. His ideas flow to create around him “ a general public and tourist project ».
It will be possible to eat and drink and there will be something for all budgets, all year round
He bought it and had it sent to the Charleroi shipyard in Belgium to carry out a large number of mechanical repairs and pass technical inspection.
A little over a month ago, he set off for Charleville-Mézières. “ We had to dismantle the wheelhouse and the top of the boat to go under the bridges. On the French side, we passed 47 locks. It has been three and a half days of navigation on the Meuse from Charleroi to here. I couldn't sleep. There was a huge emotional burden », confides the project leader who, before embarking on this new adventure, was not particularly familiar with the navigation sector.
Eat and drink on the boat
For more than a month, the boat has been moored here, in the very place where it will be operated. Development work inside and on the bridge has already started. “ I want to offer people the opportunity to eat by the water, inside and on the deck of the barge. It will be possible to eat and drink and there will be for all budgets, all year round », Promises the entrepreneur, happy with the support he receives from local authorities.
The opening is scheduled for 1is April 2025. The boat will be able to accommodate 80 people on deck and around sixty customers in the dining room.
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